Description
Dragon Sauce is a vibrant, tangy, and slightly sweet chili sauce with a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and umami. Ready in just 12 minutes, this versatile sauce combines fresh ginger, garlic, soy sauce, honey, and chili flakes, thickened with cornstarch for a glossy finish. It's ideal for drizzling over stir-fries, grilled meats, or as a dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ inch piece fresh ginger, minced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 4 tbsp water (divided)
- 1 tsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (use gluten free if needed)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Prepare the cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Set this mixture aside to be used later as a thickening agent.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced ginger and garlic, frying them for about 2 minutes while stirring constantly to release their flavors without burning.
- Add slurry and remaining ingredients: Pour in the cornstarch slurry followed by the chili flakes, white vinegar, honey, soy sauce, tomato paste, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of water. Stir everything thoroughly to combine.
- Cook and thicken the sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens to a glossy, pourable consistency.
Notes
- For a spicier sauce, increase the chili flakes to 1.5 teaspoons or more to taste.
- To make the sauce gluten free, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- This sauce pairs well with chicken, pork, tofu, or vegetables.
- If the sauce becomes too thick after refrigeration, gently reheat with a splash of water to loosen it.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
